2005 Honda Element Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 4%of 159 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 120,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the steering of the 2005 Honda Element, 4% of the 159 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 120,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“This issue has occurred multiple times over the course of a two month time frame. On cold mornings, within the first five minutes of driving the car, the car just shuts off, leaving me without brakes, steering, or acceleration. This would require me to take out the key and restart the engine. No error codes are being generated and the air/heat as well as radio continues to work. This has become quite a dangerous situation because the other vehicles are unaware I cannot move the car and the randomness of when this occurs. …”
NHTSA complaint #10563309, filed 2014-02, 130,000 miles“Steering and/or vsa system I bought a new Honda Element february 12th, 2005. Between then and near the end of 2006, I experienced a total loss of steering on at least 8 occasions. The car would continue in the direction that it was headed. There was no steering at all. The occurrences only lasted for seconds but felt like minutes. This occurred most often in the early mornings (6-7am) and between 15 and 20 minutes after leaving home. There was another problem with the steering during the same period of time. …”
NHTSA complaint #10320180, filed 2010-03, 3,400 miles“The car will stall when in motion and turning the steering wheel to make a turn. The car will stall at a stop sign , the car will stall and brake, fuel and brake lights wil come on but battery is fine and lights stay on. This is been an ongoing problem Honda will not honor the recall for the 2005 stalling auto transimission they have replaced the aic , the throttle , the cruise control , o2 sensor. The problem is going over a year since 2014 now worse.”
NHTSA complaint #10795293, filed 2015-11, 169,000 miles“The contact owns a 2005 Honda Element. The contact was driving 35 MPH when the vehicle started to jerk violently from side to side. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 48,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10426976, filed 2011-09, 48,000 miles“Ltr fwd fm re 2005 Honda Element steering column defect, reply to birmingham, al ofc. The consumer stated she has lost steering on several occasions. When the steering failed the last time, the consumer ended up facing oncoming traffic. The vehicle was taken to several different dealerships and none of them could duplicate the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10319741, filed 2010-03Steering: other model years
Other parts of the 2005 Honda Element
76 complaintsElectrical system
16 complaintsSuspension
13 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaintsSeats
12 complaintsEngine cooling
9 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
9 complaintsSeat belts
8 complaintsBody and structure
8 complaintsBrakes
6 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsEngine
4 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2005 Honda Element
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology